Man sentenced to 12 years in prison for robberies

A Baltimore man pleaded guilty to robbing an Ellicott City clothing store and a Columbia bank in November and was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Dennis M. Sweeney to 12 years in prison.

Shawn L. Purvis, 28, pleaded guilty Friday to armed robbery in connection with a holdup of the Fashion Bug clothing store in the 9200 block of U.S. 40 on Nov. 21; Purvis also pleaded guilty to a count of robbery in the holdup of the Tower Federal Credit Union on Nov. 30.

In July, Stokes was found guilty of robbing the bank and the Fashion Bug, and was convicted of an additional count of robbery stemming from an Oct. 20 holdup of the same bank. He was known as the "cross-dressing bandit" because he wore lipstick, a wig and women's clothing during two robberies.

Stokes was scheduled to be sentenced Friday, but that hearing was postponed. Another date had not been set.

Purvis pleaded guilty as part of an agreement reached with prosecutors. In exchange for Purvis' guilty pleas, Assistant State's Attorney Keith Cave dropped remaining counts of robbery, assault and theft in those cases.

Cave also dropped all charges against Purvis in a robbery of the Tower Federal Credit Union on Oct. 20. Purvis had been charged with armed robbery, robbery, assault and theft in that case.

Cave said he was satisfied with the plea and sentence.

"I believe it was an appropriate sentence under the circumstances," he said.